Letters to the Editor
Biff Tubesock
Published Letters: 4
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Stockholm Syndrome
[Read the article: Was the Tasered student asking for it?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]So, what's Meyer supposed to say on the way to the station to the cops who just hurt him? "You're a bunch of pigs and I'm going to sue your asses"? Or: "Good thing you pulled out that Taser. Next time, I'll remember to bring my gun?" He was in a "position" to tell them what they wanted to hear so he didn't get jacked up by these thugs all over again. I guess empathy isn't one of Farhad Manjoo's gifts.
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Obama's Coal Addiction
[Read the article: Why don't those hillbillies like Obama?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It's interesting to me that one of the most literate, tolerant, and far-ranging news Web sites has attempted to reduce Obama's "Appalachian problem" to the "h" word: hillbillies. Isn't Salon usually the site that decries such broad-brushed slander? Apparently unbeknownst to the Hillary-loving gobs who run this site are the dozens of pro-environment, sustainable development groups that could form the backbone of a pro-Obama movement in West Virginia (and Kentucky, too). Outraged that coal companies have stolen their land, raped the beautiful and bountiful scenery (particularly through the earth-destroying mining practices known as "mountaintop removal"), and bankrupted the region's future in the name of providing cheap energy for people in other states, these groups have formed to fight corrupt and coal-financed politicians at the local, state, and federal levels (including--surprise--Bush Administration employees at multiple agencies who have ditched enviro regulations in the name of coal-company profits). Looks like a great political opportunity for the leading Democratic presidential candidate, right? Nope.
Here's the problem: Obama loves coal. His home state, Illinois, has millions of tons of it. Illinois is one of the leaders in pushing for the Holy Grail known as "coal gasification," a technology so expensive to develop and so slow-moving that even the federal Department of Energy has had to abandon it. No matter: Obama's a big fan of the idea, as are coal companies--the nemeses of poor, Earth-loving West Virginians. Venture capitalists and even a major foundation are in on this. Obama has accepted coal-company contributions in the past and likely will in the coming general election. He can spout on about how he loves wind and solar, but coal is really the money where his mouth is.
West Virginia groups don't feel they can trust him--or vote for him--for this reason. And who can blame them? Until Obama can come up with a strong, comprehensive--and humane--energy plan, he'll have no credibility with them and others like them across the country. I write this as a one-time Obama voter (in the Maryland primary) and as one who will support him in November. There's more to West Virginia than stereotypes, privileged Salon editors, writers--and, alas, readers.
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For David L.
[Read the article: Why don't those hillbillies like Obama?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The majority of folks in coal country know that there aren't many jobs left in coal mining, due to decades of automation and the advent (and regulators' acceptance) of environmentally-catastrophic mountaintop-removal mining. So, buying and burning more coal does not end up as a trickle of cash that rains down on to their homes. But the pollution does. So, as can be learned from much in this thread, there's more in the hills than people we can look down upon. Obama's handlers should realize this and work to get his head of of his butt on coal. He may never win West Virginia in November, but he could help get something started by getting to know the nascent progressive movement that has popped because of ecological disasters wrought from our over-reliance on coal to heat and cool our homes. States don't become red or blue in a heartbeat. As opposed to the reactive and often inflammatory stuff we're hearing here, the Democrats should start working with people who will see their way of thinking, instead of bemoaning losses by writing whole sets of people off.
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More Obama O-bashing
[Read the article: How much will white racism hurt Obama?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]How much will the ongoing tsunami of drivel emanating from Salon hurt Obama?